Former hunters of the Altai Mountains protect the snow leopard – the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

For five people in remote villages of the Altai Republic decided to become a member of the WWF and the company Pernod Ricard Rouss for the conservation of this rare predator

According to experts WWF, in the Mountain Altai Valley Argut is one of the largest centers of the snow leopard in the Altai. Here b Thanks to the remoteness and inaccessibility of the territory, save more categories Siberian ibex, as well as 10-15 individuals inhabit leopard .

For the snow leopard population in the Argut most important threat is poaching. Normal loop of cheap wire – and zlyublenny « tool” local illegal hunters – terrible weapon. Installed on a game trail along which generations of moving wild animals, it becomes invisible and dangerous trap. Extracting musk deer, wolf, the locals could accidentally catch and snow leopard.

In an effort to keep the population of snow leopards in the Altai Mountains, WWF promote organizing anti-poaching raids, during which removed and destroyed dozens of deadly loops, supports scientific expeditions to monitor the snow leopard, conducts information campaigns. Do not How many years ago for the first time to protect the snow leopard has been decided to bring those and creates a major threat to the snow leopard – hunters, living in habitats of rare animals hunted in illegal hunting.

« The process was a long and difficult , – says Tatiana Yashin , project coordinator of the Altai – Sayan branch WWF . – It was necessary to identify those who might have to cooperate, to reach out to everyone. After all, we understand that hunters « barsyatniki” just know best habitat and habits of the beast, and therefore are, how to save the snow leopard. We have tried to convince hunters that on the safe and sound Snow Leopard it benefits more than on one-time sales of skins slaughtered animal ».

Job hunters built on the basis of an agreement. If the camera detects the presence of snow leopards, so residents ensure the preservation of the snow leopard in the svom sites and are rewarded. If the hunter is caught poaching, he will forever lose the opportunity to participate in the program.

Today already five people in remote villages of the Altai Republic, located near the habitat of snow leopards, trained to work with camera traps and participate in expeditions WWF. Their knowledge, skills and instincts to help WWF experts to study the snow leopard and develop effective measures to preserve the rare cats in the Altai mountains.

This program, launched in the spring of this year, implemented with the support company Pernod Ricard Rouss – partner of the WWF conservation of snow leopards in the Altai. A special feature of the program is that the snow leopard is protected outside of Protected terriitory where no permanent presence of inspectors. Not so long ago in the lens of the camera has got a well-known researchers to Snow Leopard, known as Shiva.